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PROCEEDINGS  AND  SPEECHES 


ANNOUNCBMBNT   OF   THE   DEATH 


HON.  R.  L.  Y.  PEYTOI,  ' 


0:9"    MISSOURI, 


In  the  Xoaso  of  ReBr*s«Biativo«  of  U^  Comf«d«rate  St«t*«, 
December  19th,  1863. 


RICHMOND: 

SENTIXEL    JOB    OflOE,    PRIST. 
1864. 


31  —  -^— 1 


!  ^ 


PROCEEDINGS  AiND  SPEECHES 


ANNOUNCEMENT    OF   THE   DEATH 


HON.  R.  L.  Y.  PEYTON 


OF-    MISSOURI, 


In  the  Honse  of  Representatives  of  the  Confederat*  States, 
December  19th,  1863. 


»  ♦  > 


RICHMOND: 

SENTINEL  JOB    OFFICE,   PRINT. 
1864. 


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^  .-i .-  o         p 
EULOaiES. 


DEATH  OP  HON.  ROBERT  L.  Y.  PEYTON, 


OF  MISSOURI. 


ADDRISS  OF  HOrvT,  CASPAR  W.  BELL, 

«r  MISSOURI. 

The  mcssnge  from  the  S^nato,  announcing  the  death  of  the  Hon,  K.  L. 
Y.  Peyton,  a  Senator  from  the  State  of  Missouri,  having  been  readto  the 
Hoii^-e — 

Mr.  Bell  arose  and  said  : 

Mr.  i^peaker — I  rise  to  the  performanee  of  a  mournful  duty.  My  col- 
league? have  assigned  to  me  the  ofl&ce  of  proposing  resolutions  responsive 
to  the  message  just  read  from  the  Senate,  announcing  to  the  House  the 
deatli  of  one  of  the  Senators  from  tlie  State  of  Missouri. 

The  Hon.  Kob't  L  Y.  Peyton,  while  aUempiing  to  make  his  way  to 
ft  portion  of  his  constituents,  on  the  3d  of  September  last,  at  Bladen 
Springs,  in  the  Si  ate  of  Alabama,  was  arrested  by  the  hand  of  the  great 
destroyer  of  human  existence.  Up  to  a  few  days  of  his  decease,  he  re- 
tained, unimpaired,  his  mental  faculties,  and  was  entirely  conscious  of  his 
approaching  dissolution.  And  though  far  removed  from  his  home,  de- 
prived of  the  soothing  endearments  of  kindred  aflTection  and  the  sacred 
minisi rations  of  a  devoted  and  pious  mother,  he  yet  approached  that 
ordeal — the  severest  that  can  test  or  terrify  the  human  sensibilities — with 
calmness  and  resignation,  breathing  his  last  prayer  for  the  success  of  our 
cause,  and  for  the  redemption  of  that  people  he  so  faithfully  represented. 

The  deceased  was  born  in  Loudoun  county,  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  in 
the  month  of  December,  in  the  year  182-i,  and  was,  consequently,  in  his 
thirty-ninth  year  when  b*^  died.  When  thirteen  years  old,  he  removed, 
with  his  father,  to  the  S' -te  of  Ohio,  and  in  liis  sixteenth  year  became  a 
student  of  the  Miami  University,  where  he  was  graduated  in  his  twentieth 
year,  receiving  the  highest  honors,  as  a  mark  of  his  proficiency  in  the 
vaiious  branches  of  science  taught  in  that  institution.  Upon  the  comple- 
te )n  of  his  academic  course,  he  became  a  student  of  law  at  th(^  University 
of  Virginia,  and  iu  one  year  was  graduated  on  that  ticket,  with  honor- 
able distinction. 

The  quick  and  active  intellect  of  the  deceased?. exhibited  by  so  many 
distinguishing  mar^  s  of  brillianoy — bis  mind  flashing  its  way  into  sub- 
jects with  the  rapidity  of  lightning — trave  promise  of  a  career  of  great 
usefulness  and  distinction.  Had  ho  been  spared  to  the  end  even  bf  his 
senatorial   term,   I  have  no  doubt  he  would  have  fully  redeemed   the 


4  EULOGIES   ON    THE   DEATH    OF 

promise  of  his  youth.  For  his  career,  from  the;  time  of  his  entry  upon  the 
duties  of  manhood  to  his  deuth,  thou;ih  ni-^rked  with  many  ndverse  cir- 
cumstances, so  far  from  dijiiinishing  thjs  hope,  inspired  it  with  renewed 
and  increasine;  confidenee.  Young  and  inoM[»erienced — just  twenty-two 
years  old — seventeen  years  acjo,  the  deceased  located  himself  in  H;irrison- 
ville,  Cass  county,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  as  & 
candidate  for  the  practice  of  the  law  An  entire  stranj^-er  iu  that  com- 
munii}' — without  means,  and  with  a  widowed  mother  and  two  sisters  de- 
pending upon  him  for  thvir  support — he  commenced  his  professional 
career  as  a  practising  law\'er.  And  at  i  bar  which  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  any  in  the  iVest,  by  his  brilliant  declamatory  powers,  his  argu- 
mentative skill  and  unremitting  attention  to  business, soon  piaced  himself 
at  the  head  of  his  profession,  and  amassed  a  hand.^ome  fortune. 

In  the  year  l<5o8,  such  was  the  esteem  and  regard  into  which  ho  had 
grown  among  the  ]ieople  where  he  lived  that,  contrary  to  his  own 
wishes,  he  was  chosen  a  representative  to  the  Senate  of  his  State. 

In  this  body,  although  an  entirely  new  licid  to  him,  he  very  early 
acquired  the  character  of  an  abhT' and  eloquent  debater — an  active  and 
vigilant  legislator;  while  his  equanimity  of  temper,  and  his  courteous 
demeanor,  combined,  with  a  just  perception  of  all  the  concerns  of  life, 
drew  around  him  the  esteem  and  conSdence  of  various  mernbers  of  every 
partyf^and  before  the  close  of  his  first  session,  was  ranked  as  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  democrat'C  party  of  the  State — a  party  which  could  justly 
hoast  of  a  large  number  of  gendemei^whose  talents  and  attainments,^, 
would  grace  auN'- office  of  this  Government. 

In  the  last  presidential  election,  which  occurred  under  the  old  Union, 
the  democratic  pariy  was  divided  in  its  support  between  the  Breckinridge 
and  Duuglass  tickets.  Deeply  indoctrinated  with  what  was  popularly  de- 
nominated States  rights  doctrines,  and  earnestly  impresed  with  the  belief 
that  these  principles  would  be  more  sacredly  guarded  by 'the  eleva  ion  of 
Mr.  Breckinridge  to  the  position  of  President,  the  deceased  attached  himself 
promptly  to  tliat  party,  and  with  a  zeal  and  eloquence  rarely,  if  ever, 
excelled  canvassed  the  State  in  support  of  its  principles.  His  eflorts 
were  not  wiihoat  results.  For  while  he  failed  to  place  his  party  in  as- 
cendency in  the  State,  yet  such  was  the  bold  and  feailess  manner  in  which 
he  attacked  and  expos«^d  the  dangerous  doctrines  and  heresies  of  the  re- 
publican party,  and  the  eioquont  appeals  he  made  in  behalf  of  the  rights 
of  the  South,  and  t'he  duly  it  owed  to  itself  in  defending  these  rights, 
that  he  awaken.d  the  minds  of  thit  people  to  a  true  sense  vf  their  dan- 
ger, and  contributed  mucii  toward  preparing  their  rain  )s  for  that  noble 
stand  of  resistance  which  they  have  C'/er  since  maintained  with  a  devo- 
tion which  no  disregard  of  their  rigiits  has  abated,  and  no  persecution  of 
their  enemies  can  or  will  dotroy. 

Cpoa  the  threatening  of  hostilities  to  the  State  at  the  head  of  a  large 
and  gallant  regiment,  equipped  to  some  extent  from  his  private  means, 
the  deceased  marched  to  the  seat  of  war,  and  in  an  arduous  and  severe 
campaign,  approved  himself  a  gallant  and  efficient  officer.  Ho  partici- 
pated ".n  every  battle  that  was  fought  by  that  heroic  band^the  Missouri 
State  Guard— and  received  on  each  occasion  the  commendations  of  hie 
commanding  officer  for  his  heroism  and  skill 

Near  the  close  of  this  c:tmpaign.  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Pro- 
visional Congress,  and  by  the'  Legislature  of  his  State  chosen  one  of  her 
Senators  in  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States.  He  did  not  take  bis 
seat  in  the  Provisional  Congress  until  near  the  close  of  that  body's  labors, 
and,  consequently,  r.oak  no  pnblic  part  in  its  proceedings.  As  a  Senator-- 
being  its  youngest  mevn  er — he  but  seldom  addressed  that  b'»dy  ;  but  his 
efforts  there  were  characterized  with  great  ability,  assigning  him,  by  com- 
mon consent,  to  a  high  rank  as  a  speaker,  whife  Lis  unremitting  attend- 
ance on  the  sessions  of  the  Senate,  his  deep  interest  manifested  on  all 


HON.    ROBERT   L.    Y.    PEYTON.  0 

questions,  and  particularly  such  as  atfected  more  immediately  his  own 
constituency,  made  him  a  valuable  and  useful  legislator. 

Such,  Mr.  Speaker,  is  a  brief  sketch  of  him  whose  death  we  are  now 
called  to  mourn.  He  needs  no  greater  eulogium  than  the  simple  story  of 
his  being,  to  mark  his  name  upon  the  page  of  his  country's  his  ory,  as  a 
man  of  lofty  genius,  a  true  patriot,  a  brave  warrior,  and  a  most  worthy 
and  estimable  gentleman.  His  death  will  be  mourned  by  all  who  knew  ' 
him,  and  by  none  with  a  deeper  anguish  than  his  immediate  constituency. 

He  has  been  summoned  away  from  us  at  a  moment  of  deep  and  intense 
interest  to  the  country — a  moment  when  the  fate  of  millions  is  suspended 
in  the  balance,  and  when  our  country  is  reeling  and  staggering  under 
ihe  weight  of  the  severest  afiiictions — a  moment  when  our  peaceful  vales 
are  resounding  with  tht^  clash  of  arms  and  the  hoarse  cLamor  of  war — 
when  war,  red  and  wrathful  war,  is  scattering  far  and  wide  its  intermin- 
able evils,  and  leaving  to  us  scarce  an  after- piece  of  hope,  to  mitigate  the 
pangs  of  its  wide-spread  desolation. 

Had  he  been  spared  to  us  longer,  I  feel  warranted  in  saying  no  ono 
would  have  brought  to  the  relief  of  our  country,  in  this  her  time  of  great 
need,  a  deeper,  a  holier,  or  a  more  imseltish  patriotism  than  the  deceased. 
But,  Mr.  Speaker,  his  labors  have  now  ended — his  record  has  been  m.^de 
up — hih  course  has  been  rtm,  and  to  the  repose  of  the  grave  we  would 
leave  him  to  rest.  I  now  beg  leave,  Mr.  Speaker,  to  otier  the  folloAving 
resolutions  as  a  mark  of  respect  for  the  memory  of  the  deceased  : 

jRes, lived,  That  this  House  has  henrd,  witli  deep  eensibility,  the  annotucemeiit  of  th^ 
d<j:»th  of  liou.  KoBEKT  L.  v.  I'KYTOK,  lacfly  a  Confederate  Senator  Irom  the  jState  of 
Missouri. 

Retoived,  Ihnt  as  a  further  token  of  our  respect  for  the  deceased,  the  House  do  now 
adjourn. 


•  •  • 


ADDRESS  OF  HON.  THOS.  W.  FREEMAN. 

OF  MISSOURI. 

Mr.  Speaker — You  have  heard  from  my  colleague,  the  announcement 
of  the  de»th  of  Hon.  R,  L.  Y.  Pkyton,  one  of  the  Senators  from  the  State 
of  N]issouri.  It  was  my  fortune  to  have  known  him  intimately  for  ten 
years  before  his  death.  Soon  after  I  settled  in  southwest  Missouri,  in 
the  year  1858,  I  became  acquainted  wiih  him,  then  located  at  Harrison- 
ville,  Cass  county,  Missouri,  he  was  then  quite  a  youn'g  man,  but  by  his 
sterling  wcrth,  together  with  his  geinus  and  ability,  suon  ranked  as  one 
of  the  best  layers  and  advoc;ites  in  western  Missou«i  It  required  no  or- 
dinary mind  to  take  such  position  wiih  such  men  as  Russ-ell  Hicks,  Sam 
Woodson,  D.  C.  Balloo  and  Waldo  P.  Johnson,  some  of  whom  had 
already  obtained  a  national  reputation  in  the  government  to  which  we 
lately  belonged.  He  participated  in  the  Kansas  iiifficulties,  together  wiih 
many  other  distinguish,  d  men  of  that  day,  among  whom  was  the 
honorable  menber  from  the  third  congressional  district  in'South  Caroli- 
na, that  I  now  see  before  me.  Hrid  the  South  been  filljcd  with  such  men  as 
the  deceased,  Kansas  would  to-day  have  fovmeda  part  of  this  Confederacy. 
In  1858,  he  was  elected  from  the  senatorial  district  in  Missouri,  com- 
posed of  the  counties  of  Bates,  Cass  i>nd  Jackson,  by  almost  a  unanimous 
vote.  He  took  his  seat  in  the  winter  of  1858-9  and  althougii  the 
youngest  member  of  the  Senate,  soon  won  the  reputation  ot  one  of  the 
most  talented  and  eloquent  members  of  that  body.     Just  before  the  meet- 


ent 


6  EULOGIES  ON  THE  DEATH  OF 

ing  of  the  Legislature,  as  before  stated,  a  band  of  thieves  and  murderers 
from  Kansas  Territory,  invaded  the  State  of  Missouri  and  murdered  a 
worthy  and  quiet  citizen.  Immediately  after  the  assembling  of  that  body, 
the  deceased  introduced  resolutions  making  inquirj'  of  the  Executive  ot 
tbe  State,  in  relation  to  the  subject,  and  calling  upon  the  Governor  to 
place  a  regiment  of  men  on  the  border  of  Missouri  to  protect  the  citizens 
fiom  further  outrage.  Upon  the  passage  of  the  resolutions,  the  Senator 
from  Cass  spoke,  and  several  of  the  leading  journals  in  the  State,  in 
sp'^aking  of  his  effort,  said  such  a  speech  had  not  been  heard  at  the  capi- 
tol  since  the  days  of  "David  Barten.". 

The  Legislature  met  again  in  the  winter  of  1860-1.  at  which  session,  a 
Senator  to  the  United  States  Congress  was  to  be  elected.  While  the  two 
bodies  were  in  joint  session,  for  that  purpose,  and  after  a  violent  speech 
had  been  made  by  one  of  the  Senators,  denouncing  those  States  v;hich 
had  already  seceded,  the  deceased,  at  the  solicitation  of  friends,  consented 
to  reply,  and  reply  he  did,  ifi  one  of  the  most  masterly  defenses  of  the 
Soiitli  and  her  action,  that  it  has  ever  been  my  fortune  to  listen  to,  for 
massive  energy  of  thought,  aptness  of  illustration,  and  strength  ©f  pathos, 
has  but  few  equals  and  no  superiors 

The  Legislature  continued  in  session  until  the  capture  of  the  State 
troops  by  the  Federals  at  cnmp  Jackson,  and  the  massacre  of  women  and 
children  tbe  same  day,  in  the  streets  of  St.  Louis.  On  the  adjournment 
of  the  Lpgislaiue.  LI  r.  Peyton  returned  home,  and  soon  raised  aregimentj 
'men.  and  psfrticipated  in  tlie  battles  of  Carthage,  Spi'ingfield,  Dryw 
and  Lexing'on,  where  he  displayed  the  most  unfaltering  courage  an 
bravery.  He  continued  to  command  his  regiment  until  tbe  Legislature 
elected  him  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  provisional  Congress,  and  also  one 
of  the  Senators  from  the  State  of. Missouri,  to  the  permanent.  Congress. 
Be  made  but  few  speeches  in  either  body,  yet  the  few  he  made  were 
characterized  by  ability. 

When  Congress  adjourned,  in  May  last,  few  men  of  his  age  in  this 
government.  t»ad  a  more  brilliant  prospect  before  them  ;  but  death's 
"wintry  whirlwind  soon  swept  the  prismed  vap<>r  into  nothing."  By 
his  death  "Virginia  (tii«  State  of  his  nativity)  has  lost  another  of  her 
most  gif  ed  and  tahnted  children  ;  Missouri  (the  State  of  his  adoption) 
has  lost  one  of  her  most  pure  and  patriotic  statesmen,  and  the  Confede- 
racy one  of  her  most  devoted  and  able  advocates.  As  a  citizen,  he  was 
just ;  as  a  companion,  he  was  genia'  ;  as  a  friend,  he  was  true,  and  as  a 
soldier  he  was  brave     Thus  lived  and  tlms  died  Robert  L.  Y.  Peyton. 

He  lived  but  long  enough,  Mr.  Speaker,  to  see  tbe  people'  of  his  own 
loved  State,  downtrodaen  and  oppressed,  their  homes  desolated,  their 
prof'erty  destroyed  and  many  of  them  scattered  like  she^ep' without  a 
shepherd  ;  yet  no  doubt  he  was  consoled  in  his  last  hours,  with  the  re- 
flection that  he,  together  with  the  noble  spirits  of  his  State,  had  gallant- 
ly defended  the  liberties  of  the  South,  and  doubtless  died  entrusting  his 
people  to  the  guidance  and  protection  of  the  Confederacy,  the  govern- 
ment of  their  choice.  In  our  last  interview,  he  spoke  of  the  "loved  ones 
at  home,"  and  expressed  a  desire  to  see  them;  but  his  voice  will  never 
more  make  these  friends  glad,  nor  will  their  hearts  throb  again  with 
pleasure  at  the  sound  of  his  footfall  around  the  door  sills.  The  sun  will 
continue  to  beam  as  brightly  as  before,  but  his  rays  will  not  reach  his 
narrow  home  The  rainbow  will  again  display  its  beautiful  colors,  but  it 
will  not  be  his  eye  that  sliall  be  turnea  to.gaze  upon  its  ephemeral  beauty. 
The  birds  will  sing  as  sireetly  as  before,  but  their  notes  will  not  fall  upon 
the  ear  of  the  departed  patriot.  Whtm  spring  time  con-.es,  the  flowers 
will  agaiti  bloom  as  freshly,  but  it  will  not  be  around  his  footsteps.  The 
beautiful  "Marie  du  Cygne,"  upon  whose  margin  he  basso  often  lingered 
will  still  rush  between  its  green  banks,  but  it  vill  not  be  beneath  the 
vision  of  bis  eye.     The  stirred  forrest,  where  he  has  so  often  wandered  in 


HON.   ROBERT   L.    Y.    PEYTON.  7 

manhood's  happy  hour,will  still  breath  its  notes  of  music;  but  it  will  not  be 
his  ear  that  shall  be  turned  to  its  mystical  hymn  ;  but  there  is  a  spirit- 
land  of  which  these  rclinquishr-d  beauties  are  only  a  faint  type  ;  there  the 
flowers  never  fade,  and  not  a  withered  leaf  mars  the  eternal  beauties  of 
the  spring.  In  that  bright  land,  I  hope  my  lamented  friend  has  wet  those 
lion-hearted  associates.  Waitman,  Brown,  Rives,  Eiwin,  Slack  and 
Green,  and  that  they  may  there  welcome  him  to  their  blessed  and  happy 
home. 


ADDHESS  OF  HON.  LEWIS  M.  A.7ER, 

OF   SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

Mr,  Speaker — I  should  be  untrue  to  the  dictates  of  my  heart,  were  1 
to  allow  this  melancholy  occasion  to  pass,  without  attempting  to  give 
some  voice  to  my  feelings.  My  acquaintance  with  Senator  Pbyton 
began  only  with  the  first  session  of  Congress,  but  1  very  soon  learned  to 
esteem  him  highly  for  his  many  amiable  and  admirable  qualities. 
•V  In  the  year  1856,  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  visit  and  spend  severftl 
j-^nths  in  the  great — the  magnificent  State  of  Missouri.  A  lively  and 
^teful  recollection  of  the  warm-hearted,  gbuerous  hospitality  which  I 
had  enjoyed  at  the  hands  of  the  people  of  that  State,  together  with  the 
fact  that  1  met  here,  in  the  person  of  one  of  her  worthy  representatives, 
(Mr.  Bell,)  an  intihiate  college  friend,  h-ad  the  effect  of  s  on  bringing 
about  an  acquaintance  and  placing  me  on  very  friendly  terma  with  every 
member  of  that  delegation. 

Last  spring,  while  I  was  myself  prostrated  at  home  by  sickness  this 
House  had  to  mourn  the  untimely  death  of  one  «f  its  members  from  Mis- 
souri.  The  youthful,  but  talented,  modest,  generous  and- accomplished 
Judge  Wm.  M.  Cooke  then  passed  from  this  scene  of  his  earthly  labors 
to  his  eternal  rest.  His  seat  on  this  floor  is  empty,  bat  he  will  ever 
occupy  a  place  in  our  affections. 

And  now,  sir,  wa  are  again  caUed  to  mourn  the  death  of  another 
noble  Missourian.  Alas,  sir!  heavy  and  bitter  have  been  the  misfor- 
tunes of  that  great  State.  She  has.  indeed,  been  deluged  .with  blood  and 
tears.  Her  true  men  have  been  banished  from  her  borders.  The  red 
hand  of  war  has  felled  many  of  them  on  the  bat.le-field,  while  the  inscru- 
table decrees  of  Providence  have  remev'-d  two  of  them  forever  from  the 
councils  of  the  Confederacy.     Sed  v  vit  post  fu  era  viitus. 

Mr  Peyton  was  eminently  social  in  his  disposition,  conscientious  in 
all  his  dealings,  firm  in  the  maintenance  of  his  own  opinions,  but  con- 
ceded the  same  right  of  free  and  independent  thought  and  action  to 
others  which  he  claimed  and  exercised  for  himself  If  the  whole  char- 
acter of  a  gentleman  may  be  summed  up  and  and  expresped  in  the  single 
word  CONSIDERATION,  wbich  I  am  disposed  to  regard  a  jjst  definition, 
Mr.  Peyton  was  a  perfect  gentleman,  for  he  ever  manifested  a  thought- 
ful and  kind  consideration  for  the  feelings  of  others.  If  we  had  not 
been  expressly  told  of  his  devotion  to  his  mother  and  sister,  we  should 
still  have  felt  assured,  from  our  knowledge  of  him,  that  he  was  a  man  of 
just  the  feelings  and  disposition  that  would  be  sensitively  alive  to  the 
unspeakable  spell  which  attaches  itself  to  the  hallowed  name  of  Mother. 
Such  a  man  ia  never  without  friends. 

Relying  on  the  justice  of  our  cause  and  the  patriotism  and  courage 
of  the  southern  people,  Mr.  Peyton  never  entertained  doubt  or  despond- 
ency in  regard  to  the^  complete  triumph  of  the  South  and  the  ultimate 


8  EULOGIES   ON   THE   DEATH   OF 

redemption  of  his  beloved  State  from  the  cruel  hand  of  the  oppreasor. 
He  has  not  been  spared  to  enjoy,  in  peace  and  prosperity,  the  fruits  of 
his  labors  and  sacrilices  in  the  cause  of  his  country,  but  while  we  pause, 
now,  to  drop  a  tear  on  his  new-niado  grave,  let  us  resolve  to  emulate  his 
patriotic  example,  and,  with  manly  heart  and  hope,  press  forward  in  the 
performance  of  the  noble  and  glorious  work  set  before  us — the  salvation 
of  our  country. 


•♦-♦- 


ADDRESS  OF  HOW.  T.  L.  BURNETT, 

OF     KENTUCKY. 

Mr.  Speaker — It  is  right  that  the  voice  of  Kentucky  should  unite  with 
that  of  Missouri  in  commemorating  the  name  and  virtues  of  her  deceased 
son,  KoBEKT  L.  Y.  Peyton.  '  In  the  beginning  of  this  great  struggle  for 
independence,  he  planted  himself  firmly  upon  the  constitutional  rights  of 
his  State.  In  the  last  presidential  contest  he  was  an  elector  for  the  State 
at  large,  and  by  his  energy  and  eloquence  did  much  to  awaken  the  peo- 
ple to  a  sense  of  the  danger  wliich  then  threatened  them.  Upon  the 
invasion  of  his  State,  he  was  among  the  first  to  rush  to  her  rescue.  Be- 
tween a  despicable  absolutism  on  tlie  one  hand,  and  free  government  on 
the  other,  he  was  not  the  man  to  hesitate,  and  although  young,  he  was 
not  unknown.  Nature  had  r  lessed  him  with  abilities  of  the  first  order, 
and  both  as  a  lawyer  and  orator,  he  held  a  high  position  He  raised  a 
regiment,  and  with  it  fought  on  every,  battle  field  in  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri. He  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress  when  the  people  of  his 
State  needed  the  services  of  her  best,  her  purest,  her  most  gifted  men. 
How  he  discharged  the  duties  of  legislation  it  is  not  for  me  to  speak,  as 
his  name  is  honorably  written  upon  the  pages  of  his  country's  history; 
and  his  sound  judgment  illustrated  in  the  re(3ords  of  this  Congress  But, 
sir,  he  is  gone;  cut  off  in  the  morning  of  his  usefulness.  JMot  only  the 
people  of  his  own  down-trodden  State,  but  the  whole  Confederacy  have 
cause  to  mourn  his  loss.  And  whilst  the  people  of  Misseuri  have  ren- 
dered her  name. forever  glosious — not  only  in  contributing  the  indomi- 
table Price  and  his  band  of  immortal  heroes,  who,  unaided  and  alone, 
maintained  a  single-handed  contest  with  our  most  cruel  and  bar- 
bararous  foe — but  have  sacrificed  in  their  country's  cause  many  noble, 
brave,  and"  true  men,  she  has  yielded  none  more  patriotic  and  praise- 
worthy than  her  deceased  Senator.  And  whether  he  be  remembered  in 
the  camp,  in  the  Senate,  or  in  social  intercourse,  all  will  bear  evidence  to 
his  unsurpassed  gallantry  on  the  field,  his  ability  as  a  legislator,  his  uni- 
form modesty,  and  great  worth  as  a  true  and  valued  friend.  May  we 
remember  his  virtues  and  emulate  his  example.  Let  us  reflect  upon  the 
shortness  of  human  life,  and  the  vanity  of  all  earthly  aspirations. 

"  Like  leaves  on  trees,  the  race  of  man  i«  found, 
Now  green  in  youth — now  wiiherini?  on  the  ground, 
The  fol'owinit  spring  another  race  supplies, 
They  fall  sucoe.seive  and  successive  rise. 
Thus,  genersitions  in  their  course  decay, 
So  flourish  these  when  those  have  passed  away." 

A  great  man  has  fallen ;  his  fame  is  the  nation's  inheritance.  Of 
such  is  the  highest  type  of  national  character  made  up.  They  are  the 
nation's  jewels.  May  they  be  forever  remembered,  appreciated, 
revered. 


:-v?{)?a' 


